ANNEXATION DECREES.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19888, 18 May 1936, Page 7

ANNEXATION DECREES.

PABBED BY THE BENATE. TABLET TO SIGNOR MUSSOLINI. ROME, May 16. Standing surrounded by cheering members of the Senate clad in black Fascist uniforms, Signor Mussolini to-day asked that the decrees annexing Abyssinia, conferring on King Victor Emmanuel the title of Emperor of Ethiopia and appointing Marshal Badoglio as Viceroy, be rushed through as emergency measures. The Senate was packed. The diplomatic galleries contained Prince Starhemberg of Austria, who arrived in Rome yesterday from Vienna, and representatives of nonganctionist countries, including the United States and Japan. Signor Federzoni, President of the Senate, said that in order to experiment with an abs>urd juridical conception a ferocious economic war had been waged in an unprecedented manner against people who were guilty only of defending their fundamental rights. Nevertheless Italy had won both military and political triumphs. Let any who wished to prevent Italy returning to the work of peace and reconstruction face their responsibility. Senatore Marconi acted as chairman of a committee which examined the decrees and approved them within a few minutes. Unanimous Vote. The voting was led by the Grown Prince, followed by seven other Princes, and resulted in the acceptance of the decrees by 337 votes to none. This Is regarded as surprising since the ballot was secret and several non-Fascists took part in it. In presenting the Senate's approval of the decrees, Senatore Marconi declared that Italy would resist any attempt to deprive her of her new empire, won in the teeth of sanctions, which were the most senseless and most Immoral events in history. Italy only wished, in addition to increased work on behalf of civilisation, to resume loyal collaboration in securing peace and international equilibrium in Europe. Any who attempted to obstruct her in this would be guilty of the grossest Injustice and the most dangerous menace. The Senate decided to have erected a tablet in the House recording that Benito Mussolini founded the Empire on May 9, 1936. FUTURE OF ABYSBINIA. £1,600,000 FOR DEVELOPMENT. EXPLOITING MINERAL WEALTH. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright ROME, May 16. The National Credit .Institute, which is controlled by the Government, has voted £1,600,000 for the development ol’ Abyssinia. The works proposed include seven arterial roads. A semi-official company is beingestablished to exploit the mineral weal Hi of the country. Other proposed developments include hydroelectric power, cotton and coffee growing and the breeding of cattle.